Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping => General Fishkeeping Chat => Topic started by: Helen on June 26, 2018, 08:31:48 PM

Title: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: Helen on June 26, 2018, 08:31:48 PM
Setting my hospital tank had me rummaging in the cupboard uder my fishtank and I realised how much rubbish I have in it.

I wondered if other fishkeepers are like me, or tidy.

A selection of things in my cupboard include a largish sieve, a plastic plant, lava rocks, co2 cannisters and injection system, a couple syphons, 2 bags of gravel, a bottle of sand, two buckets, a box of filter media, several test kits, a box of Practical Fishkeeping magazines, coconut shells, a roll of silver sticky back plastic, labels for pretty much every plant I've ever bought. Plus an assortment of foods, fertilisers etc.
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: Lynne W on June 26, 2018, 08:58:28 PM
I hear you, given I've only been doing this since January, my cupboard under the tanks is bulging at the seems, so much so most of it gets left out on a coffee table, giving the living room the continual I'm doing something with my fish tank look. Even have some stuff building up at the side of the tank in the water changing bucket!

I've got 4 syphons, yeah 4 who knew they were so fickle!! testing kits, plant tools, filter stuff, like you all the plant lables, 4 different glass cleaning tools again who knew!! automatic feeders, got two of those!! My sand and soil are in the garage as I overdosed on that at set up!

I'm also slightly embarrassed to say I've got the two lid sections that came with the tank under there too, as I bought two new sections just so I could have the pre made holes for the fish feeders  :vcross:

What it is they say about fools and their money, maybe we should change it to fish keepers and their money :rotfl:
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: Sue on June 26, 2018, 09:54:30 PM
My cupboard is in two halves. On one side I have 3 stacking baskets containing all sorts of bits and pieces, and  fish food, dechlorinator and meds. The other side has a shelf, and on the bottom are spare filters, heaters, a bag of carbon etc and the top shelf has my box of family history odds and ends and my Kindle charger. In the glass shed greenhouse I have 2 sets of buckets and siphons, one for the main tank the other for the betta's tank; two large plastic boxes containing old bits of decor; a handleless bucket containing the gravel that used to be on the bottom of the old Rio 125, and 2 spare 25 litre tanks. And under the worktop in the kitchen are my water change refilling bucket and jug.
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: Matt on June 26, 2018, 11:29:02 PM
Surprised myself writing this how much stuff I have though I still feel this is relatively restrained!

I have 1 siphon and 1 'filling hose' which attaches to the kitchen tap, a bucket of hardscaping materials (rocks and wood I don't like any more), a water change bucket, spare heater, spare filter, plant labels, dechlorinator, test kit, fish food, magnetic glass cleaner (no one's mentioned them yet!) plant ferts, absorbent towels, auto feeders.
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: Littlefish on June 27, 2018, 11:05:58 AM
Um, I don't really know where to start.  :-[
Fish stuff has pretty much taken over the ground floor of the house. Luckily the house layout kind of lends itself to this sort of chaos, with everything on the ground floor (including what I call the "fish bathroom", unless I have guests staying), with just my bedroom and en-suite upstairs. Things are in a bit of a mess at the moment as I have had guests, who went home yesterday, and I'm in the process of going through loads of old stuff to see what I can get rid of.
So, going room by room, the chaos is as follows:-
living/dining room - 12 fish tanks (including 2 temporary/quarantine tanks on the dining table, and a breeding tank for pest snails on the windowsill). The only cabinet that has any room for storage is the dwarf puffer tank, where I store medication, water test kits, and several racks of test tubes.
Kitchen - 5 x 10 litre clean water containers on top of fridge, plus a few smaller water containers. One small wall cupboard by the sink containing water treatment, plant ferts, liquid carbon, and fish food. Small floor cupboard by sink contains random plastic jugs, tupperware, colander & sieve.
Spare bedroom - 2 empty fish tanks
Hallway/space under stairs - A tank. Way too many stack boxes containing previously used sand, pebbles, rocks, decor, a larger (>50L) stack box currently used for soaking wood. Large stack box for old filters, lights, heaters, etc. which I am slowly working through to see what still works. 5 x 10L containers for waste water, many buckets, and a large stack box containing maintenance items such as syphons, glass cleaning tools, aquascaping tools, tubing, etc. Then another container for towels, and the long tube I use for attaching to the FX filters to water the garden when doing water changes on the large tanks.

*coughs* I think that covers everything.  :-[

Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: TopCookie on June 27, 2018, 11:18:16 AM
Yep, I too am in the @Littlefish school of storage...  Stuff in the garage, the dining room is chocabloc with fishy equipment & utensils, every spare draw in the hallway and living room has fishy stuff in there and there are bottles of stuff even in the kitchen...  The actual fish tank cupboard is quite conservative really, just foods and test kits essentially - it's the rest of the house...   :rotfl:
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: Littlefish on June 27, 2018, 11:24:42 AM
Thanks @TopCookie I feel much better now I know I'm not the only one who lives like this.  ;D
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: TopCookie on June 27, 2018, 11:30:30 AM
I, and I bet everybody else too, forgot to mention that even the freezer has fish food in there, lol...   :rotfl: 

@Matt I do have a JBL "Floaty", but it's a bit redundant now as the clean up crew, particularly the eight Oto Cats (aka "Micro-Cats"), are doing a great job of the tank glass...  ;D
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: TopCookie on June 27, 2018, 11:34:55 AM
What it is they say about fools and their money, maybe we should change it to fish keepers and their money :rotfl:

lolol...  this is true too...  Blimey, it's so easy to start looking at the multitude of fish websites, eBay & Amazon etc, when a bit bored, and just buy stuff...  My big "guilty pleasure" purchase is a battery operated gravel vac by Fluval...  Tons of other stuff too, including water treatments, medications, fertilisers etc...  Huge amounts of which is largely unused...!!!
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: Sue on June 27, 2018, 12:06:38 PM
I, and I bet everybody else too, forgot to mention that even the freezer has fish food in there, lol...   :rotfl: 


I forgot there as well  ;D
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: Helen on June 27, 2018, 12:46:16 PM
This has turned into a really funny thread. I also might show Mr Helen if he complains about all the fish stuff I have.

I also didn't mention fish food in the freezer, nor the hospital tank, dechlorinator and many test tubes by the sink in the utility room.  :o
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: fcmf on June 27, 2018, 01:34:03 PM
Fishkeeping reading material in the bookshelf nearest the tank.

Buckets and QT (and spare tank) in cupboards elsewhere.

Down side of fishtank cupboard: Rolls of currently-decommissioned backing paper. 2 heavy-duty condensation trays for resting fish-feeder on – still miss my Clearseal with its Majestic/Monarch hood and in-built condensation tray (@LynneW, what make of filter hood is yours? I can understand why you’ve bought spares if as good as these.)

In fishtank cupboard – double-sided:
Shelf 1: Cleany for siphons (sure-fire way of guaranteeing blisters on fingers from friction of pushing it into siphons); 3 siphons and add-on pieces for one of them.
Shelf 2: Towel with tray on top to set aquascaping instruments, nets, etc, in; currently containing two siphons, a pair of plant tweezers, 2 algae scrubbers on long-armed handle (one brush scraper, one plastic scraper), packet of disposable shoulder-length gloves.
Shelf 3: Spare filter, 3 filters’ packaging (one now being discarded as filter has already been discarded), spare filter sponges, spare filter wool, spare heater.
Shelf 4: Testing kits; current supplies of food; numerous items of junk (eg miniature plastic spoons for ice-cream, now used to serve fish food, lids of discarded test tubes, plastic measuring lids of old medication and dechlorinator bottles); small plastic container for replenishing water; 2 plastic jugs, one less rounded to make it easier to catch fish; sponge for cleaning glass, 3 algae-scrapers/magnets.
Shelf 5: auto-feeder; extra supplies of fish food and plant food; meds; plant items [eg pegs, lead weights, wrap-around foam, 50-ish terracotta rings, 50-ish labels from unintentionally killed plants, 10-ish plastic plant pots (as remainder were discarded a while back); silk plants, stones and other currently-decommissioned decor; spare limestone rock pieces; spare fish-feeding rings, ordinarily used for containing floating plants before they’re unintentionally killed.
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: Littlefish on June 27, 2018, 04:09:57 PM
I, and I bet everybody else too, forgot to mention that even the freezer has fish food in there, lol...   :rotfl: 


I forgot there as well  ;D

And the live food (bloodworms, plus earthworms for the axolotls) in the salad drawer of the fridge.  ::)
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: daveyng on June 27, 2018, 04:41:27 PM
In the cupboard under the tank I have the 2 canister filters, CO2 tank (5 Kg fire extinguisher), Fish Flake, Fish Wafers, Assorted Fertilisers and Seneye Refills.
I also have assorted equipment in the shed and the loft and of course food in the fridge.
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: Rustle on June 30, 2018, 11:45:28 AM
Evolution aqua complete plant food.liquid carbon.api test kit. Dennerle dried almond leaves.fish food.hatchery nets.micromesh net.fluval mini filter.sponge filter.juwel bio sponges. Aquascaping tools. Battery operated aeriator pump.esha 2000.esha ndx. Sterazin. Clove oil.microfibre cloths.long handled glass cleaner.aquarium salt. Pair black stockings to cover fluval mini filter holes.elastic bands. Elbow length rubber gloves. Small glass fish bowl.plastic mesh filter guards. Spare heater.
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: Matt on June 30, 2018, 06:36:55 PM
Evolution aqua complete plant food.liquid carbon.api test kit. Dennerle dried almond leaves.fish food.hatchery nets.micromesh net.fluval mini filter.sponge filter.juwel bio sponges. Aquascaping tools. Battery operated aeriator pump.esha 2000.esha ndx. Sterazin. Clove oil.microfibre cloths.long handled glass cleaner.aquarium salt. Pair black stockings to cover fluval mini filter holes.elastic bands. Elbow length rubber gloves. Small glass fish bowl.plastic mesh filter guards. Spare heater.

WOW  :yikes:
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: Andy The Minion on June 30, 2018, 09:07:34 PM
WOW x2 fish keeping in stockings. I'm not going to try it but I can see it working for some :)
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: fcmf on June 30, 2018, 09:14:24 PM
Memories of this thread https://forums.thinkfish.co.uk/fish-tanks-and-equipment/best-bit-of-kit/msg22377/#msg22377 and this one https://forums.thinkfish.co.uk/fishtank-filtration-and-cycling/ph-high-or-low-range/msg25029/#msg25029 still make me chuckle.
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: Sue on June 30, 2018, 09:43:22 PM
I'll have to go through my cupboard/greenhouse/freezer and list everything. It'll fill an entire page as I never throw anything away unless it is completely broken!
But I don't have any stockings I'm afraid, I only have knee high socks  :)
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: Littlefish on July 01, 2018, 04:40:05 AM
WOW x2 fish keeping in stockings. I'm not going to try it but I can see it working for some :)

Especially with the elbow length rubber gloves.  ;)
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: Rustle on July 01, 2018, 06:00:07 AM
Omg  :rotfl: I have been informed by the wife tho they are not stockings but tights. ( looking for red faced emoticon)

Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: Littlefish on July 01, 2018, 06:25:08 AM
Whatever works for you in this warm weather.  ;D
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: Sue on July 02, 2018, 03:53:05 PM
I have just sorted my cupboard.
Left side:
dechlorinator, food, pestle & mortar for grinding up food, bottle ammonia, unopened eSHa Exit (expiry Sept 2019), part used bottle eSHa 2000, envelope containing instruction leaflets, water change cloths, box containing 125 w Jager heater, box containing 25 w Newa heater (which failed to heat the betta's tank higher than 23 deg), thermometer - a foot long one for checking the temp of buckets of water. Large yogurt pot holding scissors, thread, toothbrushes, teaspoon, tweezers. Stacking baskets containing spare timer, alder cones, sealant, plants labels, net bag for carbon, small LED for quarantine/hospital tank, pill boxes, pipettes, syringes, measuring spoon, measuring cups from old med bottles, terracotta plant weights, assorted plastic tubs
Right side:
test kit, old fluorescent light controller in box, Aqua Internal 50 filter in box, Interpet IPF mini filter in box, bag carbon, Aquaball 2206 filter in box, Aquaball 2208 filter in box, loose pump for Biopower 2413 filter which I need to check to see if it works, Eheim filter boxes containing various spare baskets and filter media and impellers, plastic box containing spare suckers for Eheim equipment and old suckerless heater brackets, bag of net fabric.
Behind cupboard;
Box containing 450 mm LED light (from the old 50litre tank - I put the fluorescent light back when sold it)
Fridge:
current bottle plant fertiliser
Freezer:
fish food, rest of large bottle of plant fertiliser
Under kitchen worktop:
refilling bucket with jug and home made colander
On top of spare bedroom wardrobe:
Boxes that the LED lights came in containing the T8 tubes they replaced


Greenhouse:
2 sets of water change buckets and siphons
2 boxes containing old plastic plants, silk plants, plastic decor, terracotta plant pots, knee high socks etc.
Old bucket with gravel that used to be in tanks
Old bucket containing Limpopo sand that turned out to fizz when tested with vinegar so never used
Old kitchen bin containing nets and long handled algae scraper
2 x 25 litre tanks, lids and foam for under tanks
Pair very long pond gloves that I can't use for cleaning tank because I can't feel anything through them
Old margarine tub for euthanasing fish with small screw top bottle and bottle clove oil.

Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: Matt on July 02, 2018, 07:02:54 PM
Interested that you keep your plant fertiliser in the fridge - does it recommend to do so on the bottle?
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: Sue on July 02, 2018, 07:20:58 PM
My fertiliser is Seachem Flourish (comprehensive supplement for the planted aquarium). The last sentence in the directions says "Refrigeration after opening is recommended but not required"

A tip I picked up a while ago for those with only lightly planted tanks is to divide the bottle into several smaller containers, and put all but one in the freezer. Keep one in the fridge for current use, then when that runs out thaw out one of the bottles from the freezer and keep that in the fridge.

Apparently, not only can the liquid go off but it can also grow mould as it ages at room temperature.
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: Matt on July 02, 2018, 07:23:56 PM
I have seen mine where towards the end of the bottle some of the compounds have separated out... might give this a go!

PS. I'm using The Aquascaper Complete Liquid Plant Food... ill check the bottle later...
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: Littlefish on July 02, 2018, 07:25:48 PM
A very cost effective approach Sue.
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: fcmf on July 02, 2018, 07:28:44 PM
My fertiliser is Seachem Flourish (comprehensive supplement for the planted aquarium). The last sentence in the directions says "Refrigeration after opening is recommended but not required"
Our fertilisers may have been bought at different times (mine expires in 08/20) but, interestingly, mine says "Refrigeration is recommended 3 months after opening".
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: Matt on July 05, 2018, 11:22:59 PM
Nothing on the bottle or packet about putting in the fridge or freezer. Still sounds sensible to me though. I'm going to try see if some old soap dispensers will give me roughly a daily dose amount per pump so I can use that as each day instead of pouring it out of the bottle into the lid then using a syringe then tipping it back etc...that can then be the 'active' bottle and the rest can go in the freezer.
Title: Re: What is in your fishtank cupboard?
Post by: Sue on July 06, 2018, 08:47:09 AM
When I got my most recent bottle of Flourish I split it into 3. One third stayed in its bottle - that one is still in the freezer. The second third went into a washed, old Flourish bottle. That too went in the freezer and is now the one in the fridge. The third third went into an old dechlorinator bottle; this was finished a while ago and the bottle washed ready for next time.
The older bottle in the fridge is the one I quoted a few posts ago; I have just looked and it has no use by date on the bottle. The one in freezer is a different design, bears the use by 10/19, and also says it is recommended to refrigerate 3 months after opening.


Because I have only slow growing plants I do not use as much as those of you with densely planted tanks. The freezing advice I read was aimed at people like me rather than those that use a whole bottle in a few months  :)